System and method for protecting eye safety during operation of a fiber optic transceiver
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:
- in a memory within a fiber optic transceiver, storing a first set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for a bias current associated with a transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver, a second set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for an output power associated with the transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver;
acquiring, at an integrated circuit within said fiber optic transceiver, input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include the bias current and the output power;
comparing the bias current to each digital equivalent in the first set of digital equivalents, the output power to each digital equivalent in the second set of digital equivalents;
determining that said input signals conflict with at least one of the first set of digital equivalents and second set of digital equivalents;
generating an alarm flag based on said conflict; and
storing the alarm flag in a predefined location within the memory; and
allowing a host to read from host specified locations within the memory, including the predefined location in which the alarm flag is stored.
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Abstract
A single-chip integrated circuit, sometimes called a controller, controls operation of a transceiver having a laser transmitter and a photodiode receiver. The controller includes memory for storing information related to the transceiver, and analog to digital conversion circuitry for receiving a plurality of analog signals from the laser transmitter and photodiode receiver, converting the received analog signals into digital values, and storing the digital values in predefined locations within the memory. Comparison logic compares one or more of these digital values with predetermined setpoints, generates flag values based on the comparisons, and stores the flag values in predefined locations within the memory. Control circuitry in the controller shuts off the laser transmitter in response to comparisons of signals with predetermined setpoints that indicate potential eye safety hazards.
115 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:
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in a memory within a fiber optic transceiver, storing a first set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for a bias current associated with a transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver, a second set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for an output power associated with the transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver; acquiring, at an integrated circuit within said fiber optic transceiver, input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include the bias current and the output power; comparing the bias current to each digital equivalent in the first set of digital equivalents, the output power to each digital equivalent in the second set of digital equivalents; determining that said input signals conflict with at least one of the first set of digital equivalents and second set of digital equivalents; generating an alarm flag based on said conflict; and storing the alarm flag in a predefined location within the memory; and allowing a host to read from host specified locations within the memory, including the predefined location in which the alarm flag is stored. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Circuitry for monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:
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a memory, including one or more memory arrays, configured to store a first set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for a bias current associated with a transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver, a second set of digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined setpoints for an output power associated with the transmitter within the fiber optic transceiver; communication circuitry configured to receive input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include the bias current and the output power; comparison logic configured to compare the bias current to each digital equivalent in the first set of digital equivalents, the output power to each digital equivalent in the second set of digital equivalents, and to generate an alarm flag if said input signals conflict with at least one of the first set of digital equivalents and second set of digital equivalents; and an interface for allowing a host to read from host specified locations within the memory, including a predefined location in which the alarm flag is stored. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:
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in a memory within a fiber optic transceiver, storing digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined high and low setpoints associated with the fiber optic transceiver, including high and low setpoints for bias current, output power, received optical power, internal supply voltage, and temperature; acquiring, at an integrated circuit within the fiber optic transceiver, input signals associated with operation of the fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include;
a bias current, an output power, a received optical power, an internal supply voltage, and a temperature;comparing the input signals to their associated setpoints; generating a plurality of alarm flags in accordance with results of the comparing; storing the alarm flags in predefined locations within the memory; and allowing a host to read from host specified locations within the memory, including the predefined locations in which the alarm flag values are stored.
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16. Circuitry for monitoring operation of a fiber optic transceiver, comprising:
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a memory, including one or more memory arrays, to store digital equivalents of a plurality of predetermined respective setpoints for each of a bias current, an output power, a temperature, a received optical power, and an internal supply voltage of the fiber optic transceiver; communication circuitry to receive input signals associated with operation of said fiber optic transceiver, wherein the input signals include;
a bias current, an output power, a temperature, a received optical power, and an internal supply voltage of the fiber optic transceiver;comparison logic to compare the input signals to their respective setpoints and to generate alarm flags in accordance with results of the comparisons; and an interface for allowing a host to read from host specified locations within the memory, including predefined locations in which the alarm flags are stored.
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Specification